Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest private employer in the U.S., said it’s looking at supporting an increase in the federal minimum wage, breaking with business and industry groups that oppose such a measure.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executives, speaking at a company meeting this month, said its store shelves need to be better stocked with merchandise and that resolving the matter could be a $3 billion opportunity.

U.S. companies, forbidden to give money directly to political action committees, are taking advantage of controversial federal rules allowing them to ask employees to do it for them in exchange for matching charitable donations.

Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB fell the most in more than 13 years after its parent company announced an investigation into allegations that representatives in the country bribed local officials to get stores opened faster.